The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1887-03-05
ETHEL'S FLAME.
by EDMOND Z. EvEnsoN.

Well, yes, ma'am; ms you say, We nurses
DO sometimes see very romantic stories
under our ewes. III could write down all
the family histories that have seen, and
heard, dear. dearl what book il would
make, TO be surel But you were asking me
about Miss Ethel Sunderland.
i was sent for TO nurse her through n
dreadful attack Of lung fever when she was
only IL. Her father was pretty nearly
ont OF his mind about her, for she was
the only child, and her mother was dead
They had relatives, like other people, but
none living with them, and the house was
under the care OF a regular housekeeper.
But Mr.. Sunderland was very rich, and en-
tertaintd a great deal of company, so that
Mrs. Wood, the housekeeper, had not time
10 regularly nurse Miss Ethel, who needed
constant care.
She was the prettiest little creature, with
big, soft, brown eyes, and crop of brown
curls, and as sweet and patient as she was
pretty. All the winter she was kept in
her room; but when the spring opened the
doctor ordered her to have n drive outside
the town every fine day, especially ordering
that she was to be carried down the stairs,
as she was very weak and still short Of
breath.
Mr.. Sunderland, though he was rich
man, did not keep n carriage. He had
waited for that, he said, until Miss Ethel
was n young lady. SO he went 10 livery
stable and ordered an open barouche for
every fine afternoon, being particular 20
speak for very careful driver, and one
strong enough TO carry his daughter down
the stairs.
OF course was TO 90 with Miss Ethel.
She was SO weak the first day that il was
hard work 10 dress her.
As soon ng eba was raalad after IainO
dressed, | went down and called the driver
90 carry her TO the carriage. As he came
up the front steps. thought he was one of
the hnndsomest men ever saw in my life
tall and strong, with dark curling hair, and
big black eyes.
But, strong and tall ms be was, no wo-
man could have been more gentle He
lifted Miss Ethel as tenderly az n mother
lifts a baby, and settled her on the pillows
IN the carriage SO nicely that she looked
the picture of comfort.
When she thanked him. he said, "This
carriage was built for Mrs Elberston, and
il hung very low, on easy springs. was
accustomed to carry her as / have carried
you, so Mr. Elberston sent me to-day"
Mr.. Elberston was the man who kept the
livery stable. Certainly no carriage could
be more comfortable, and tho drivers seat
was on the same level as the back one
where Miss Ethel was settled, while the
driver and sat in front.
He did not talk much tho first day, but it
was beautiful 10 see how careful he was i'm
driving, and could tel by his eyes that he
was very much amused at Miss Ethels
chatter. How her tongue did rum Every
thing gave her something to laugh or talk
about, and just the faintest pink came into
her pale checks, making her prettier than
ever.
Well, we went TO drive every day, and
very soon the handsome driver chatied
away with as as merrily as Miss Ethel her.
self. His name, he told US, was Mark, and
somehow, while he was perfectly
respectful 10 US, you could see that 1t was
not exactly IN servants way, but that re-
spect every gentleman gives a lady, or even
a woman in my position.
And then, although / never had much
education myself, I've been amongst ladies |
all my life, and We nurses have great |
deal OF time for reading. so can tell when |
any one has school learning AZ well as any |
body. and Mark had. lie would tell Miss |
Ethel many things that she only knew n |
little about. but he had studied and they |
would often use foreign words or whole |
sentences, rs IL they were just the same as
English.
IL all came about so easily. that we did |
not stop TO think then how odd II was for /
her TO be chatty with the driver, but after
awhile I got uneasy. She was, i'm some
You see, my charge, and IL ever
two young people were falling in love with
each other thcse two were.
But what could / do? Mr.. Sunderland
was high and mighty with people under
him, and never spoke 10 mo except about
Miss Ethers health, and, you see, II was a
delicate matter to speak about.
All through April, May, and June we
drove ont every day. Mark knew every
pleasant drive within miles OF the town,
and as Miss Ethel grew stronger we spent
whole afternoons In pleasant. shaded
places, bringing home great lunches OF
Wild flowers, and better than oil, bringing
health 10 the dear child.
Indeed, she WINS so much better that
proposed several times 10 leave her, but
was persuaded 20 stay.
"My daughter is accustomed now TO your
,are," Mr.. Sunderland said 10 me. in his
grand way, "and when she COOS TO the sea-
,ide she must have an attendant who un-
iersiands her health. You can name your
,wn price, but. II possible, should like
o You remain with her."
So ! stayed, and easy enough found IL.
No night-nuYing, no mental work, for
here were plfty OF servants, and one TO
wait especially upon Miss Ethel's room.
She was retk fond Of me, too; and. i'm
Iced. her N4n mother could not have
,ufead her mare lovingly and fnilhfullv